Paul Gallen will team up with Greg Bird and Willie Mason Photo: Steve Christo

Former NRL star Jarrod McCracken and ex-All Black Troy Flavell will also don the gloves for the December 15 event.

Mason, who plays for the Knights, said he was motivated to get into the ring for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand following the death of his father Ian in 1997.

"While it wasn't from prostate cancer, I think for anyone who has suffered a loss like my family did, cancer is cancer," Mason said. "So, when I heard the charity was a cancer awareness one, the decision to get inside those ropes was an easy one.”

McCracken, who played 22 Tests for the Kiwis during a career which took in stints at the Bulldogs, Eels and Tigers in the NRL, signed up after his 71-year-old father Ken - also a former New Zealand Test representative - was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

"My motivation is simple," said McCracken. "If I can convince blokes to go and get checked and save their kids from having to watch their father go through what the old man is going through now, then every second inside the ring would have been worth it."